Angels In Islam

God mentions the names of five angels in the Quran: Gabriel, Michael, Haroot and Maroot - the angels of Babel, and Malek - the guardian of Hell.

Chapter 2, verse 98
Anyone who opposes God and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael, should know that God opposes the disbelievers.

Chapter 2, verse 102
…They taught the people sorcery, and that which was sent down through the two angels of Babel, Haroot and Maroot (almalakayni bibabila haroota wamaroot). These two did not divulge such knowledge without pointing out: "This is a test. You shall not abuse such knowledge."…

Chapter 43, verses 74 – 78
Surely, the guilty will abide in Hell forever. Never will the retribution be changed for them, they will be confined therein. It is not us who wronged them; it is they who wronged their own souls. They will implore, “Oh Malek let your Lord put an end to us.” He will say, “You are staying forever. We have given you the truth but most of you hate the truth.”

There are angels who guard the fire of Hell. They are stern and powerful angels and they never disobey the commands of God (66:6). They take no pity on the dwellers of Hell.

Chapter 74, verses 30-31
Over it is nineteen. We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number to disturb the disbelievers, to convince the Christians and Jews, to strengthen the faith of the faithful, to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and to expose those who harbour doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers they will say, "What did God mean by this allegory?" God thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. This is a reminder for the people.

The angels of death come to all of us at the appointed time. No one dies before their time. The opening verses of chapter 79 in the Quran tell us that angels are floating everywhere and upon death they snatch the souls of the disbelievers violently but take the souls of the believers gently and joyfully.

Chapter 6, verse 61
He is Supreme over His creatures and He appoints guards to protect you. When the appointed time of death comes to any of you, our messengers put him to death without delay.

Chapter 32, verse 11
Say, "You will be put to death by the angel in whose charge you are placed then to your Lord you will be returned."

There are angels who take the souls of the disbelievers.

Chapter 8, verse 50
If you could only see those who disbelieved when the angels put them to death! They will beat them on their faces and their rear ends: "Taste the retribution of Hell.”.

There are angels who take the righteous back to Paradise.

Chapter 16, verse 32
The angels terminate their lives in a state of righteousness, saying, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise as a reward for your works."

Each of us has two recording angels, on our right and left, constantly recording everything (50:17). Daily they climb to God, in a day that equals fifty thousand years, with their reports on each of us (70:4). Shifts of angels take turns to stay with us in accordance with God’s will (13:11) so we are never alone.

The angels have wings – two, three and four (35:1) and they submit totally to God. They prostrate without the least arrogance (16:49) and they are messengers. When God refers to Himself as We in the Quran it is because the angels participate in doing God’s bidding.

God tells us in the Quran that the angels are not females (43:19).

And on the Day of Judgement the assigned creation blowing the horn will not be struck unconscious on the first sounding so that it can blow the horn a second time. Then we will all rise up to be judged by God.

Chapter 39, verse 68
The horn will be blown, whereupon everyone in the heavens and the earth will be struck unconscious, except those who will be spared by God. Then it will be blown another time, whereupon they will all rise up, looking.